How states fared on unemployment aid applications

The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits fell last week to a seven-month low, evidence that employers may be stepping up hiring. Weekly applications fell by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 390,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the lowest level since April and the third drop in four weeks.

Here are the states with the biggest increases and decreases. The state data is for the week ended Oct. 29, one week behind the national figures.

States with the biggest increases:

Michigan: Up 1,467, due to layoffs in the manufacturing and transportation industries

Wisconsin: Up 1,320, no reason given

States with the biggest decreases:

California: Down 5,633, due to fewer layoffs in the service industry

New York: Down 1,661, due to fewer layoffs in the educational service, finance and insurance and service industries

North Carolina: Down 1,659, no reason given

Tennessee: Down 1,302, due to fewer layoffs in the service, construction and manufacturing industries